Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsRelax... It's Just Sex (1998) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 17 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
P.J. Castellaneta (writer)
Release Date:
10 June 1998 (France) more
Plot:
A mixed group of individuals - lesbian, gays, and heterosexuals who all frequent a local bar struggle to accept each others lifestyles... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Better than I had anticipated more (24 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Mitchell Anderson | ... | Vincey Sauris | |
| Terrence 'T.C.' Carson | ... | Buzz Wagner | |
| Seymour Cassel | ... | Emile Pillsbury | |
| Lori Petty | ... | Robin Moon | |
| Serena Scott Thomas | ... | Megan Pillsbury | |
| Jennifer Tilly | ... | Tara Ricotto | |
| Susan Tyrrell | ... | Alicia Pillsbury | |
| Cynda Williams | ... | Sarina Classer | |
| Paul Winfield | ... | Auntie Mahalia | |
| Billy Wirth | ... | Jared Bartoziak | |
| Eddie Garcia | ... | Javi Rogero | |
| Timothy Paul Perez | ... | Gus Rogero | |
| Chris Cleveland | ... | Diego Tellez | |
| Gibbs Tolsdorf | ... | Dwight Bergman | |
| Kathryn Bundy | ... | Marcia Fu |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexual content, language and a scene of violence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
UK:18 | Australia:R | Australia:R (2007) | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | USA:R | Germany:12
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
When Tara is confronting Gus in their bedroom, clothing can be seen hanging over the armoire's mirror. This was done to hide the reflections of the crew members. more
Quotes:
Megan Pillsbury:
Could we may be not talk about Sarina for five minutes, please?
Alicia Pillsbury:
You don't real have to be so testy, dear. After all, you did live together for a very long time....
Megan Pillsbury:
For god's sake, mother. Anyone else's parents would be thrilled their daughter was out of a lesbian relationship and seriously seeing a man. A handsome successful good man at that. But you two, you just carry on!
Alicia Pillsbury:
[to Jared] She always was the testy one! Um ha ha!
Emile Pillsbury:
[in a low voice] Alicia, I think it's enough.
Alicia Pillsbury:
No, it's time for honesty right here at this table. Honesty.
Alicia Pillsbury:
[to Megan] You, you at a very young age, you came to the two of us, and you said to us that you were a lesbian. And that we should just get used to it. We have. And now you are bringing this
[looking toward Jared]
Alicia Pillsbury:
. And Sarina was just like a daughter that we never had.
Emile Pillsbury:
[in a loud voice] Enough!
[...]
more
Soundtrack:
Hey more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (24 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Relax... It's Just Sex (1998)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Relax.... It's just Sex 2??? | Joshua_Edouard84 |
| gay intercourse to start movie,too much for me | hairball-8 |
Recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Edge of Seventeen | Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss | Stonewall | 101 Reykjavík | My Own Private Idaho |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |










This is a fairly decent film with a really lame title. The film's opening is even misleading, starting with some pretty raucous gay sex--so from the outset it appears as if the film is going to be yet another dull explorating of the trials of gay life in the 90s. And there have been a lot of those films lately. Fortunately, director PJ Castellaneta is more wily than he lets on, and allows the film to evolve into something more intricate and at times very touching.
The film manages to balance a cast of widely different characters and maintain a sense of order without devolving into a who's who of politically correct character inclusion. You have the straights, the gays, the lesbians, the bisexuals, blacks, whites, latinos, and the film even manages to present Christianity in positive tones, albeit with a few well placed jabs now and then. The scripts evenly doles out its emotional weight, never straying into farce when it would be the easy thing to do, nor does it list grind into maudlin sentimentality when it would also be the easy thing to do.
The story revolves around the lives of a coterie of friends of various sexual orientations and temperament. "Relax" follows their development with humor and insight, sometimes relying too much on an intrusive voiceover by the main character, Vince. The emotional centerpiece of the film is a gay bashing where the victim suddenly gains the upper hand. This moment threatens to overwhelm the final half of the film because it raises a crucial question that the "Relax" never adequately, answers (nor did I feel it should have answered), which is, In a world where one is oppressed by violence, to what degree is violence--retributive, eye-for-an-eye violence--an appropriate response?
This is just one of a number of issues that the film raises and leaves for your consideration. Perhaps it is just as well, since it seems like to dwell overly long on these issues would overwhelm the rest of the film; indeed, Castellaneta felt it necessary to remove Vince from the main thread of the film, whereas he was hitherto the central character. In his place, Jennifer Tilly takes over, and she takes the film to its conclusion. Tilly usually goes for the quirks or the sex appeal of her film characters, but this time around she plays a woman whose quirks don't overwhelm her personality, merely compliment. She makes the film.
It was also nice to see a gay film that didn't trot out the familiar, banal diatribes against Christianity. Granted, the gay Christian couple does come across as a little hokey at times, they are never portrayed as weird, evil, judgmental, or exclusionary. Indeed, they are a fitting completion to the the microcosmos that revolves around Tilly's maternal presence.
I came to the film with few expectations and came away rather pleased. There are still a few drawn out moments that could have been trimmed, but the overall package of this film was a surprising delight.